With its renowned medical expertise and comparatively low costs, India has become a major medical tourism hub. However, this influx of international patients has revealed a darker side: ‘Patient Trafficking’ (we may be using this word for the first time and hope it will get into the healthcare lexicon). While many receive excellent care, vulnerable individuals seeking affordable treatment are increasingly exploited. The experience begins when a patient seeking medical care arrives at the airport or railway station or a bus stop of their destination city. Immediately upon arrival, they are approached by individuals pretending to assist them with medical deals. Many patients, being vulnerable and uninformed, often fall prey to these unscrupulous people and get driven to clinics, nursing home or hospitals hoping for healing. These individuals are, more often than not, strategically planted by various clinics or hospitals as their agents to broker a sweet deal with the patients, with promises that will never be fulfilled. On all highways, ambulances from nearby private hospitals are a common sight to ‘rush’ accident victims, and in major medical hubs, this is a large-scale racket and needs to be investigated at the highest levels to understand the nefarious link between the care providers and the care dealers.

This exploitation takes various forms. Deceitful agents, often in collaboration with hospitals, inflate treatment costs for foreigners, leaving them financially drained. A 2017 study by the Liver Foundation in Ahmedabad revealed that 40% of foreign patients were overcharged by 300-500%. This practice continues unabated. For instance, in 2022, a Kenyan patient seeking cardiac surgery was quoted a price five times higher than the standard rate by an agent, highlighting the persistent issue of money extortion in the guise of lending a helping hand. Patients are also misled about the nature and success rates of procedures.

In one case, a Bangladeshi woman seeking affordable IVF was implanted with a donor egg without her consent, revealing potential grave ethical violations. A similar incident in 2023 involved a Nigerian couple who were promised a successful surrogacy but later informed of complications, raising serious questions about transparency and informed consent.

The problem extends beyond hospitals. Unlicensed guesthouses, posing as "recovery centers," hold patients hostage, demanding exorbitant fees for substandard care. Language barriers and unfamiliarity with Indian legal systems make these patients easy prey. A 2021 report by the nonprofit organization ‘Save Our Sisters’ documented cases of foreign patients being confined to such facilities, denied proper medication, and threatened when they couldn't pay inflated bills.

To combat this, the Indian government needs to act decisively. Implementing a transparent system for verifying agent credentials and setting standardized treatment costs for foreign patients is crucial. Additionally, increasing awareness among patients about their rights and offering multilingual support services can empower them.

India's reputation as a leading healthcare provider is at stake. Tackling patient trafficking is not just about protecting vulnerable individuals; it is about safeguarding the integrity of India's medical system. With India planning to be a major medical value travel, patient trafficking should be nipped in the bud.

Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta is Founder, International Patients' Union, and Saptarshi Gargari is Senior Project Associate.

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References

1. Liver Foundation, Ahmedabad. (2017). Exploitation of foreign patients seeking medical care in India.
2. Srinivasan, S. (2019). Bioethics in a globalized world: The case of medical tourism in India. Journal of Medical Ethics, 45(1), 32-37.
3. The Hindu. (2022, June 17). Kenyan medical tourist cheated by agent in Chennai.
4. Times of India. (2023, March 8). Nigerian couple alleges fraud by fertility clinic in Delhi.
5. Save Our Sisters. (2021). Trapped in recovery: The exploitation of foreign patients in India.